Yup, KCON still owns my life...but not for much longer.

To all my avid readers, thank you! We are now HALF WAY through the nursing program! Woohoo! Last week Thursday the second clinical rotation started for the semester. I am at Helen Devos Children's Hospital. We aren't in the new building yet because it is quite done but that building is so sweet looking. Anyway, Thursday was mainly an orientation day and somewhat of a tour. Friday was our first day with a patient. We were actually partnered up a another student from our group and we both took care of that patient. It was really helpful in learning the whole charting system and what not. The day went extremely well and I enjoyed it...I can't go into too much detail about it because of HIPPA.

One great thing is NO MORE LAB! Our lab classes are done for the semester which gives us a lot more time to focus and study on other theory and clinical work so that is nice.

This week Monday we had our 2nd theory test over a variety of topics including: CAD (coronary artery disease), heart attacks, heart failure, PVD, musculoskeletal issues, GI alterations, the hospitalized child, and female and male reproductive problems. Yeah tons of information...the test was tricky, some questions weren't worded well, and I struggled with being motivated to study...so I didn't do as well as I would have liked but I passed.

Then for the rest of class on Monday and today we have been talking about mood disorders. One of the nurses that works at Pine Rest is actually teaching the lectures. It's sort of boring because I already know a lot of the info, but I act as though I am paying attention!

Super Duper Sweet!

Rocked it out! Oh yeah baby! Of course that would be the test out we had today. We had to know how to perform two skills: NG tube (nasogastric) insertion and removal and a central line dressing change. So I went in the little test out area with the professor and she hands me two alcohol swab packages (and I'm thinking to myself what do you want me to do with these. We don't use these in the skills...oh no I'm going to fail), but she informs me that I have to pick one of the two and on the bottom it will say the skill I need to perform. So I picked and I get NG tube. Nailed that testout on the head! And so now for the rest of the semester we don't lab class. YES!!!

Let me fill you in a little bit about last week since I didn't write about it. On Monday we had lab that was on gastrointestinal care so we learned how to insert the NG tube. Then our theory class on Monday was about care for the adult with musculoskeletal alteration. Tuesday's lab was on orthopedic care so we got to play around with crutches, wheelchairs, ace wraps, ect. It was actually quite fun, and out theory class was about care of the hospitalized child. Then yesterday in lab we had a practice day for the skills were were going to be tested out on and in theory class we talked about the child with birth defects. Then today we will be talking about male and female health issues.

Research class has been boring. Last week was super boring. This week we have a test which I'm kinda nervous about because I don't really understand too much that she talks about in class. In other news a nursing friend classmate, has now become my girlfriend! (Crazy fun pic below!)

Catheterazation Test Out

Let me tell you...this week has been amazing. Since we ended our clinicals last week by going three day instead of two all I had this week was classes. This made my week a lot less busy, and I have the same situation this coming week.

Monday we finished our series of lectures on heart alterations by talking about heart failure and PVD. I am really interested and fascinated by the way the heart works so I'm kinda bummed for the lectures on the heart to be done but I think the test over this part is going to be challenging. Then Tuesday in our theory class we moved on and discussed the adult with gastrointestinal alterations (this included things like GERD, gastritis, GI bleeds, ulcerative colitis, and crohn's disease).

In lab, on Tuesday, we had our test out on inserting catheters. So Monday was a practice day. We had to know how to insert either a Foley catheter or a straight catheter in either a female or male patient while maintaining sterility. All that means is we had to know how to insert a catheter into the urethra while being sterile. The Foley catheter is the one that is inserted and stays in while draining into a bag, and the straight catheter is only inserted for a few minutes to empty the distended bladder. For our patients we use manikins with switchable urinary/reproductive parts. So on Tuesday we had our test out in front of a professor. We went into the room and where given a senerio in which we learned the gender of the patient and had to determine which catheter that needed to be inserted. I had a male patient that needed a straight catheter and I passed!

Wednesday and Thursday we did not have clinicals so I had those day off, which was extremely nice. I did my first LEI (longitudinal elderly initiative) visit for the semester and that went well.

Time Out....in the Operating Room

Sorry I am a little late in my weekly post. I had a busy weekend with work. So let me fill you in. Last Monday we had our first test in our theory class. Honestly I didn't get as mush studying done as I would have liked hence after completing the test I didn't feel so good about it. I did better on it than I thought so that made me happy. After the test we started a series of lectures on heart alterations which continued on Tuesday.

Wednesday and Thursday were awesome because I got to be in the OR (operation room) watching different procedures and surgeries. It was interesting to see what a nurse does in the OR. Also found a lot of interest in what the CRNA does (certified register nurse anesthetist). This may be an appealing option for a career later in my nursing experience (it includes a lot more school and right now I just want school to be down). But it was a very interesting and fun time. Friday we had to meet with the professor for an evaluation of our clinical and then the group went out for lunch.

My clinical time at Zeeland Hospital is now down and a few short weeks I be starting my pediatric rotation at Devos children's hospital which I am very excited about. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we have our first test out on insertion of a catheter. I feel pretty good about. I just have to remember to maintain sterility because it's so easy to break the sterile field.